Suction cleaner



D. G. SMELLIE SUCTION CLEANER Filed Aug. 9, 1946 Jmellie H 7' Tam/5K Aug- 5, 1952 D. G. SMELLIE 2,605,857

sUcTIoN CLEANER Filed Aug. 9, 194e 2 SHEETS- SHEET 2 INVENTOR. onald Sinelle Patented Aug. 5, 1952 aan? [SUCTION CLEANER vvl)onaltl G. Siellia Canton, Ohio, ass'ignor to The Hoover Company, North Canton, Ohio, :a corporation of Ohio Application August 9, 1946, seria1No.689,382

The present invention relates'tosuction'cleaners ingeneral and more particularly to a new Vand novel arrangement of parts in a suction cleaner wherein some of the dirt yin a dirteladen air stream is removed prior `to Aiiltering the dirtladenair stream. Y

It is an object ofthe present'invention to provide a new and improvedsu'ction cleaner. Another object is to provide a suction cleaner for separating some of the dirt from a dirt-laden air stream prior to passing thefdirt-laden air through a filter.` `A further object is to provide a suction cleaner wherein 'the .incoming dirtladen air stream passes a deecti'ng bale which 'causes heavy dirt particles in theair stream to be deflected Vinto a dirt receptacleprior to filtering the air stream. A still further object is to provide an end cap fora suction cleaner casing and having a plurality of separate dirt chambers ior collecting different types of dirt. Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following specification and drawings wherein:

Figure 1 is a vertical section along lthe line I-Il of Figure 3; Y

Figure 2 is a `sectionalong the line 2--2 Vvof Figure 1;

y Figure 3 isa section along line v`3-3 of Figure 1; and

vFigure 4 is a perspective View of the end cap forming the dirt container removed from the suction cleaner casing.

The embodiment of theinvention herein disclosed comprises a suction cleaner casing formed Y in two sections 9 and I'joined together'by a plurality of screws II. The exhaust end of the cleaner casing is closed by a removable end cap I2 provided with aport 13, and the'opposite end -is closed by an endcap I4 which includes `a dirt receptacle, and the casinglis supported upon a pair of runners I5. A transverse wall I6 extends across the casing and is provided with an annular shoulder I1 on which is 'riveted ya cylindrical casing I8 which extends horizontally forwardly into the casing section lfand forms withvthe transverse wall I6 a vorticalwhirl chamber i9. The whirl chamber lil-is` provided-with a tangential inlet 20 extending outwardly beyond the-cas'- ingv section I to a point thereabove and is connected with a conduit v2 I formed by a Lxnem'ber A2 2 provided 4with marginal ilanges 2^3which1are 'dusting tool'hose provided witha surfacecleanf ing nozzle. 7

9'Clailn's. (CL-183-35) Formed integral with the transverse wall I6 is an enlongated inlet 25 which extends horizontally into the whirl chamber I9 andis provided at its outer end with a strainer plate 26. The opposite vend of the inlet 25 extends beyond the transverse wall I6 and is connected to a housing 21 forming a fan chamber.v The fan chamber is divided intov a 'first stage 28 opening directly into the inlet 25 and into a second stage 29 by a rigid deflector 36 which includes a multiplicity o f `vanesSI-andaninlet 32. Within lthe fan housing 2l are two fans 33-33 of a double stage fan carried by-the extended shaft 34 of an -unshown motor positioned inA a housing v 35. The Vfan chamber in its second Astage 29 -is provided with'aplurality of exhaustports 36 which connect the fan chamber with a nal lterf chamber 31, the outer wall of which is-dened by a -cylindrical filter -33 'of suitable air-permeable ydirt-impermeable lmaterial 'which is positioned concentrically with the casing section e. One end of the lter 38is supported adjacent the-fan chamber by Van encircling collar 39 which is sealed to the-fan chamber housing v21. The opposite end ofthe filter'39'ismounted on a plate et carried inspaced yrelaimship to the casing section v9 by a plurality ofspiders 4I, and the plate Vl0 is centrally lilanged at 42-to seat on the motor housing 35. The lter v38 and the end plates 39 and `lll define the nalzlter chamber 3l. The space between the-'casing section 9 and-the filter 38 forms 'an annular discharge chamber 54 which is opened around the plate 4l] toapertures e5 formed in the motor housing 35. p

The motor housing is supported intermediate its ends 'byajmem-ber #Ii/having an internal ange'l in 'seatingengagement withthe motor -motor-supper'ting frame 52 and member provided with vvafplurality of apertures lfor the 'passage of air through the-lteri-ng material V5S to remove any Ydirtwhichy might remain in the air.

' The --driving motor is provided with incoming power leadsi Ilwhichf pass through Ia `switch-supu 'loorti-ng-bratiket-iiil tofa' manu-ally operable switch 59 `Iroxn'wlfiicl'l a pair flea'ds-Bl extend and are connected to the motor. A handle 68 for carrying the cleaner is mounted between the switchmounting bracket 58 and the inlet conduit member 22.

A filter-,cleaning unit is provided for the filter 38 and comprises a nozzle 60 carried by a conduit 6I 'mounted for rotation about a sleeve 82 on a bearing 63. Nozzle 60 and its conduit 6I are rotated by the motor shaft 34 through the agency of certain power-transmitting speed-ree" ducing means provided within the casing 64 and which in their specific construction form no part of this invention. The conduit'GI opens intoag conduit 65 immediately adjacent the endand side walls of the fan chamber 21 and connects to the whirl chamber I9 at 66 so that at all times, with the cleaner in operation, the conduit 65 is sup' Vchamber v31.

plied with any suction which is present and available to the whirl chamber I9.

The end cap I4 is provided with a handlc and is removably telescopically arranged within the casing section I by a pair of-latches 19, and comprises a bottom wall 10, vertical side walls 1I-1I which merge into anarcuatetop wall 12, an outer end wall 13, and an inner end wall 14. Inner end wall 14Y extends Vupwardly from the bottom wall 1I) andterminates in an annular seat 11 which telescopes the whirl chamber casing I8 and abuts a gasket 18.

A dirt-collecting chamber 8,0forv the relatively' light particles of dirt discharged from the vortical whirl chamberv I9 is formed by the whirl chamber casing I8 and the end walls-13 and 14, vertical side walls 'II, and the bottom wall 10 of the end cap I4. Anannular dirt discharge outlet 8 I from the whirl chamber I9 to the dirt chamber 80 is formed by amember 82 depending from the top wall 12 of the end cap I4 and the extreme .end of the whirl chamber casing I8.

A dirt chamber 83 for receiving relatively heavy particles of dirt is formed Yin the upper portion of the end cap I4 and is provided with an opening 84 which, when the endcap `is attached to the cleaner casing, is `aligned with an opening 85 in the inlet conduitv2l. Formed in the conduit 2l and transversely thereof is a defiecting bafiie 86 which lis positioned opposite the openings 84 and 85 to engage the incoming dirt-laden air stream and deflect the relatively heavy dirt particles from the air stream into the dirt chamber 83 prior to the air streamsentering the vortical whirl chamber I9. l

In the operation of the cleaner an unshown dusting tool hose with a cleaning nozzle at its end is attached to the inlet conduit 2I and the motor energized by closing the switch 59'. Current passes through the driving motor and the motor shaft 34 rotates the suction-creatingv fans 33 and the speed-reducing mechanism within the casing 84. The rotation ofthe suction-creating fans 33 creates a reduced pressure within the whirl chamber I9 which is in turn effective in the inlet conduit 2| and the dusting tool hose and nozzle attached thereto and also within the conduits 65 and 6I and so to the filter-cleaning nozzle 60. As the operator moves-the surface-cleaning nozzle `over the surface being cleaned, the incoming flow of air carries dirt and foreign material into the inlet conduit 2|. Prior to the dirt-laden air entering the whirl chamber I9, the dirt particles in the air stream strike the defiecting baffle 86 which, invturn retards the flow of the heavy dirt particles and directs` the latter downwardly through the open-'- ings 85 and 84 into the heavy dirtfcollecting chamber 83 to thereby remove substantially all of the heavy dirt particles in the incoming air stream. The dirt remaining in the air stream is relatively light in weight and then passes on through the opening 20 into the whirl chamber I9. The light foreign material is thrown by centrifugal force to the periphery of the whirl chamber casing I8 and as it rotates it is forced outwardly by the new incoming air and makes .its exit from the forward end of the whirl chamber .I9 through the annular discharge opening 8l kinto lthe light dirt-collecting chamber 89 ar- L ranged about the whirl chamber casing I8.

The cleaned. air is drawn through the inlet 25 into the fan .chamber and is exhausted therefrom through the exhaust ports 36 into the filterl This air which enters the filter chamber 31 is nearly clean and carries only a small percentage of the total dirt which enters the machine, yet a part of which is objectionable to theuser asA itis capable of creating a dust smell' in any vescaping air. Whatever foreign material is carried in the airY as it enters filter chamber 31 is removed therefrom as the air passes outwardly through' the enclosing cylindrical lter 38 into the discharge chamber 44. From the discharge chamber 44 some of the air passes through the apertures 45 and 90 in the motor housing 35 and also exteriorly of the motor housing through the openings 49 in the motor-supporting frame 46 and then through the rear filter 56 and finally through the exhaust'port I3 in the end cap I2.

As stated, the suction of the machine is effective within the nozzle '60' which, during operation, is rotated about `the motor axis'under the actuation of the'f speed-reducing mechanism within the casing 64;A The nozzle 60 is of substantially the same length as the fwidth of the filter 38 and as it moves in its orbit it contacts the entire inner surface of the filter 38 and removes therefrom, by virtue yof Ythe flow of cleaning air which is drawn from the discharge chamber 44 backwardly into the `nozzle 60, all foreign material which has collected uponl the filter 38. This foreign material is conveyed through conduits 6I and 65 to the whirl chamber I9 and again enters the incoming dirt-laden air stream and this time in its passage through the whirl chamber I9 all of the dirt is removed. This operation of the filter-cleaning nozzle 60 is continuous and serves to maintain the back pressure in the filter chamber 31 at a reasonable point and one which` does not restrict in an objectionable manner the fiow of cleaning air through the machine. l 1

In due time it will becomev necessary to empty the dirt chambers and l83 in the end cap I4. This is accomplishedby manually releasing the latches 19 upon the oppositeside of thecasing section I0 of the suction cleaner. Thereafter the operator, by grasping the handle 69, can remove the end cap I4 from the cleaner casing and by inverting the end cap `the heavy dirt particles in the dirt chamber y83 and the light dirt particles in the dirt chamber 80 are removed. After emptying theV dirt fromboth of the chambers 80 andV 83 the end `cap;.I4- is replaced in the cleaner casing and the latches 19 manipulated to Vvlock-the dirt receptacles and end cap in position, and the cleaner is'then again ready for-operation. y y 53 f V1. In va suctionl cleaner-.ft` suction-creating means for drawing a dirt-laden air stream into said cleaner, a dirt-receiving container means extending into the Apath of said dirt-laden air stream for defiecting some of the dirt laterally therefrom into said dirt-receiving container, and a stationary dirt separator of the whirl type interposed between said dirt-receiving container and said suction-creating means for removing dirt remaining in said air stream prior to the latter passing through said suction creating means.

2. In a suction cleaner, suction-creating means for drawing a dirt-laden air stream into said cleaner, a conduit for conveying said dirt-laden kair stream toward said suction-creating means, a dirt-receiving container having an entrance connected to said conduit, means in said conduit in the path of said dirt-laden air stream and at said entrance to said dirt-receiving container for deflecting laterally some of the dirt from said air stream into said dirt-receiving container, and a stationary dirt separator of the whirl type interposed between said dirt-receiving container and said suction-creating means for removing dirt remaining in said air stream prior to the latter passing through said suction creating means.

3. In a suction cleaner of the type having a casing provided with a stationary dirt separator, and suction-creating means to draw a dirt-laden air stream through said stationary dirt separator; a dirt container removably connected to said suction cleaner casing and having two separate dirt-collecting chambers, one of said dirt-collecting chambers connected to said dirtladen air stream for receiving relatively heavy dirt therefrom, and the other of said dirt-collecting chambers connected directly to said stationary dirt separator to receive substantially all of the remaining dirt in said air stream.

4. In a suction cleaner of the type having a dirt separator. of'the vortical whirl type dened by a casing having an open end, and suctioncreating means to draw a dirt-laden air stream through said vortical whirl dirt separator; a dirt container removably connected to saidv suction cleaner and having means spaced from said open end of said vortical whirl casing to define with the latter a discharge outlet for the dirt removed from the dirt-laden air stream, and a dirt-collecting chamber in said dirt container for receiving the dirt from said discharge outlet.

5. In a suction cleaner, a cleaner casing, suction-creating means for drawing a dirt-laden air stream into said cleaner, an end cap removably connected to said casing, a plurality of separate dirt-receiving chambers in said end cap, means for deflecting some of the dirt from said dirtladen air stream into one of said dirt-receiving chambers, and a stationary vortical whirl rtype dirt separator interposed between said one dirtreceiving chamber and said suction-creating means for removing dirt remaining in said air stream and discharging it into another of said dirt chambers in said removable end cap.

6. In a suction cleaner, an initial dirt separator, suction-creating means for drawing a dirtladen air stream through said initial dirt separator, a final dirt separator to receive relatively clean air from said suction-creating means and lter the same. means for removing dirt collected on said final dirt separator and return it to said initial dirt separator, and means for deflecting somek of the dirt from said dirt-laden air stream prior to passing through said initial separator to thereby reduce the amount of dirt to be removed from said air stream by said initial and final dirt separators.

'7. In a suction cleaner, a cleaner casing, suction creating means for drawing a dirt-laden air stream into said casing, a dirt'container removably attached to said casing and having a plurality of inlets for entrance of dirt into said container, a dirt separator interposed between said inlets, means for deilecting some dirt from said dirt-laden air stream through one of said inlets into said dirt container, said dirt container cooperating with said dirt separator to define the other of said inlets for passage of dirt from said dirt separator into said container.

8. A suction cleaner comprising a casing having an open end, a whirl type dirt separator in said casing and exposed in part at said open end, conduit means Vin said casing for conveying dirt laden air from a surface being cleaned to said dirt separator, suction creating means in said casing for moving said dirt laden air through said conduit means and said whirl type dirt separator, a cover for said casing open end removably attached to said casing, said cover including means forming a rst dirt container and means forming a second dirt container, means dening an opening in said conduit means, means in said conduit means deflecting some dirt from said dirt laden air through said opening into said first dirt container prior to passage into said dirt separator. and means on said cover cooperating with said dirt separator, when said cover is attached, to define an inlet for passage of dirt from said dirt separator into said second container.

9. A suction cleaner comprising a casing, av

Whirl type dirt separator in said casing, conduit means for conveying dirt laden air from a surface being cleaned to said whirl type dirt separator, suction creating means in said casing for moving said dirt laden air through said conduit means and then said whirl type dirt separator, a rst dirt container connected to said conduit means, means in said conduit means deflectlng some dirt from said dirt laden air passing through said conduit means into said rst dirt container prior to passage into said whirl type dirt separator, and a second dirt container connected to said whirl type dirt separator for receiving dirt discharged by the latter.

DONALD G. SMELLIE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the iile of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,134,022 Spencer Mar. 10, 1915 2,143,144 Fagerberg Jan. 10, 1939 2,168,670 Evans Aug. 8, 1939 2,226,630 McCord Dec. 31, 1940 2,323,405 Linderoth, Jr July 6, 1943 2,405,625 Whiton et al. Aug. 13, 1946 2,406,915 Smellie Sept. 3, 1946 

